# Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination, 9th Edition – Test Bank\
Ball, Dains, Flynn, Solomon & Stewart | ISBN: 978-0323481953 |
Chapters 1-26 | 200 Questions with Answers & Rationales
Section 1: The History and Interviewing Process (Questions 1-25)
**1. A nurse is taking a health history from a patient. Which question would be considered a "leading
question" that should be avoided?**
A) "What do you think is causing your headaches?"
B) "You don't get headaches often, do you?"
C) "On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the severity of your headaches?"
D) "At what time of day are your headaches the most severe?"
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* A leading question suggests the desired answer and limits the patient's response. Asking
"You don't get headaches often, do you?" may bias the patient's answer .
**2. When are open-ended questions generally most useful during a patient interview?**
A) During the sensitive part of the interview
B) After several closed-ended questions have been asked
C) While designing the genogram
D) During the review of systems
**Answer: A**
*Rationale:* Open-ended questions during sensitive topics allow you to gather more information and
establish you as an empathic listener. Closed-ended questions during these topics may stifle the
patient's desire to discuss the illness history .
**3. Periods of silence during a patient interview can serve important purposes, such as:**
A) Allowing the clinician to catch up on documentation
B) Promoting a calm environment
C) Providing time for reflection
D) Increasing the length of the visit
,**Answer: C**
*Rationale:* Silence is a useful tool during interviews for reflection, summoning courage, and
displaying compassion. This is not a time to document in the chart .
**4. Mr. Franklin says, "I've had this cough for 3 days, and it's getting worse." You reply, "Tell me
more about your cough." Mr. Franklin states, "I wish I could tell you more. That's why I'm here. You
tell me what's wrong!" Which response is most appropriate for enhancing communication?**
A) "After 3 days, you're tired of coughing. Have you had a fever?"
B) "I'd like to hear more about your experiences. Where were you born?"
C) "I don't know what's wrong. You could have almost any disease."
D) "I'll examine you and figure out later what the problem is."
**Answer: A**
*Rationale:* This response focuses on the chief complaint to gather more data and does not digress
from the issue .
**5. After you ask a patient about her family history, she says, "Tell me about your family now."
Which response is generally most appropriate?**
A) Ignore the patient's comment and continue with the interview
B) Give a brief, undetailed answer
C) Ask the patient why she needs to know
D) Tell the patient that you do not discuss your family with patients
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* A brief, undetailed answer will satisfy the patient's curiosity without invading your
private life. Ignoring the comment or refusing to answer may anger or frustrate the patient .
**6. Which action would best promote accurate translations as well as confidentiality when the
caregiver does not speak the patient's language?**
A) Ask a person unfamiliar with the patient to translate
B) Have a friend of the patient translate
C) Involve the family with the translation
D) Have the patient's neighbor translate
**Answer: A**
, *Rationale:* Family members or friends may pose a communication barrier and may have issues of
confidentiality; a professional translator unfamiliar with the patient is less biased .
**7. During an interview, you have the impression that a patient may be considering suicide. Which
action is essential?**
A) Immediately begin proceedings for an involuntary commitment
B) Ask whether the patient has considered self-harm
C) Ask whether the patient would like to visit a psychiatrist
D) Record the impression and refer the patient for hospitalization
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* If you think the patient may be considering suicide, he or she probably is. Mentioning it
gives permission to talk about it .
**8. You are collecting a history from an 11-year-old girl with her mother present. What is the best
approach?**
A) Interview the child alone at some point
B) Interview the parent and child together for all questions
C) Mail the child a questionnaire in advance
D) Address all questions to the parent
**Answer: A**
*Rationale:* Older children should be given the opportunity to give information directly. This
enhances the probability that the child will follow your advice .
**9. When questioning the patient regarding sexual history, which question should be asked
initially?**
A) "Do you have any particular sexual likes or dislikes?"
B) "Do you have any worries or concerns regarding your sex life?"
C) "How often do you have intercourse and with whom?"
D) "Do you have any reason to think you may have been exposed to an STI?"
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* When approaching a sensitive area, the provider should first ask open-ended questions
that explore the patient's feelings about the issue .
Ball, Dains, Flynn, Solomon & Stewart | ISBN: 978-0323481953 |
Chapters 1-26 | 200 Questions with Answers & Rationales
Section 1: The History and Interviewing Process (Questions 1-25)
**1. A nurse is taking a health history from a patient. Which question would be considered a "leading
question" that should be avoided?**
A) "What do you think is causing your headaches?"
B) "You don't get headaches often, do you?"
C) "On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the severity of your headaches?"
D) "At what time of day are your headaches the most severe?"
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* A leading question suggests the desired answer and limits the patient's response. Asking
"You don't get headaches often, do you?" may bias the patient's answer .
**2. When are open-ended questions generally most useful during a patient interview?**
A) During the sensitive part of the interview
B) After several closed-ended questions have been asked
C) While designing the genogram
D) During the review of systems
**Answer: A**
*Rationale:* Open-ended questions during sensitive topics allow you to gather more information and
establish you as an empathic listener. Closed-ended questions during these topics may stifle the
patient's desire to discuss the illness history .
**3. Periods of silence during a patient interview can serve important purposes, such as:**
A) Allowing the clinician to catch up on documentation
B) Promoting a calm environment
C) Providing time for reflection
D) Increasing the length of the visit
,**Answer: C**
*Rationale:* Silence is a useful tool during interviews for reflection, summoning courage, and
displaying compassion. This is not a time to document in the chart .
**4. Mr. Franklin says, "I've had this cough for 3 days, and it's getting worse." You reply, "Tell me
more about your cough." Mr. Franklin states, "I wish I could tell you more. That's why I'm here. You
tell me what's wrong!" Which response is most appropriate for enhancing communication?**
A) "After 3 days, you're tired of coughing. Have you had a fever?"
B) "I'd like to hear more about your experiences. Where were you born?"
C) "I don't know what's wrong. You could have almost any disease."
D) "I'll examine you and figure out later what the problem is."
**Answer: A**
*Rationale:* This response focuses on the chief complaint to gather more data and does not digress
from the issue .
**5. After you ask a patient about her family history, she says, "Tell me about your family now."
Which response is generally most appropriate?**
A) Ignore the patient's comment and continue with the interview
B) Give a brief, undetailed answer
C) Ask the patient why she needs to know
D) Tell the patient that you do not discuss your family with patients
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* A brief, undetailed answer will satisfy the patient's curiosity without invading your
private life. Ignoring the comment or refusing to answer may anger or frustrate the patient .
**6. Which action would best promote accurate translations as well as confidentiality when the
caregiver does not speak the patient's language?**
A) Ask a person unfamiliar with the patient to translate
B) Have a friend of the patient translate
C) Involve the family with the translation
D) Have the patient's neighbor translate
**Answer: A**
, *Rationale:* Family members or friends may pose a communication barrier and may have issues of
confidentiality; a professional translator unfamiliar with the patient is less biased .
**7. During an interview, you have the impression that a patient may be considering suicide. Which
action is essential?**
A) Immediately begin proceedings for an involuntary commitment
B) Ask whether the patient has considered self-harm
C) Ask whether the patient would like to visit a psychiatrist
D) Record the impression and refer the patient for hospitalization
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* If you think the patient may be considering suicide, he or she probably is. Mentioning it
gives permission to talk about it .
**8. You are collecting a history from an 11-year-old girl with her mother present. What is the best
approach?**
A) Interview the child alone at some point
B) Interview the parent and child together for all questions
C) Mail the child a questionnaire in advance
D) Address all questions to the parent
**Answer: A**
*Rationale:* Older children should be given the opportunity to give information directly. This
enhances the probability that the child will follow your advice .
**9. When questioning the patient regarding sexual history, which question should be asked
initially?**
A) "Do you have any particular sexual likes or dislikes?"
B) "Do you have any worries or concerns regarding your sex life?"
C) "How often do you have intercourse and with whom?"
D) "Do you have any reason to think you may have been exposed to an STI?"
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* When approaching a sensitive area, the provider should first ask open-ended questions
that explore the patient's feelings about the issue .
